Grimsby Town 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League Two, Blundell Park, Saturday 12 September 2026
Bristol Rovers' four-game winning run in Sky Bet League Two ended with a 2-0 defeat away to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park.
The Gas started the day at the top of the table, with an unchanged team for the fourth straight league match, but conceded twice in the first half against an unbeaten Mariners side.
Kieran Green got on the end of a flick from Andy Cook and beat Brad Young to the ball to poke in the opener, before Géza Dávid Turi rifled in an impressive second from the edge of the box to double the hosts' advantage.
The Pirates made changes looking to get back into the contest after the break, but David Artell's men stood firm to keep a clean sheet, with the Gas also ending the game with ten men after a red card for Tommy Leigh.
The Gas looked to threaten in the opening minute, with Fabrizo Cavegn flicking the ball down the right for Shaq Forde to whip in a dangerous cross, but a Grimsby defender got across to clear it behind before Bobby Kamwa could get there.
Rovers continued to threaten, with Tom James whipping a dangerous corner from the left into the heart of the box, but Tommy Leigh directed his effort just wide of the left post.
Grimsby had their first opportunity moments later. Charles Vernham looked lively, finding Kieran Green with a free-kick, but the midfielder flicked his header just over the bar. Vernham then went alone, curling a clever shot towards the bottom right corner from outside the box, but Brad Young pushed the ball wide.
Andy Cook flicked David Harrington's ball forward into the path of Green, who got to it before the onrushing Young and poked his attempt into the back of the net.
Grimsby controlled the rest of the first half and doubled their lead five minutes before the break, with Turi blasting a powerful effort into the top right corner from range.
Manager Steve Evans made three changes at half-time, looking to turn the momentum around, with Ellis Harrison, Joe Quigley and Jack Aitchison replacing Fabrizio Cavegn, Bobby Kamwa and Shaq Forde.
The Pirates looked to use the physical presence of Harrison and Quigley to their advantage but struggled to find the forwards, while the Mariners continued to create opportunities.
Vernam got down the right side of the box and dragged a shot just wide of the right post before they had their biggest chance of the half. Mark Shelton played the ball down the left to Sonny Finch, who spotted Brad Young off his line and looked to find Andy Cook, but the striker could not quite get on the end of it.
Leigh was then shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident following a Rovers corner before the hosts threatened again, with Green finding Turi with a perfect cross from the right, but he directed his strike over from close range. The Gas could not find a way back into the contest in the closing stages and fell to their first Sky Bet League Two defeat since the opening day.
Grimsby Town: Harrington, Sweeney, McJannet, Kacurri, Rodgers (Pruti 68), Turi, Green ©, Shelton (Doyle 88), Vernam (F. Cartwright 74), Finch (Reynolds 88), Cook (Morgan 74)
Subs not used: Auton, Walker
Goals: Green, Turi
Bookings: Green, Vernam
Bristol Rovers: Young, James, Balmer, Mola, Forde (Harrison 46), Kamwa (Aitchison 46), Purrington, Smallwood © (Russell-Denny 78), Leigh, Harbottle (Kelly 26), Cavegn (Quigley 46)
Subs not used: Binns (GK), Sanyaolu
Bookings: Purrington, Forde, Balmer
Red: Leigh
Referee: Edward Duckworth
Attendance: 6945 (376 away)
